I need a time machine.

It seems like things always clump so that there is more to do than is possible. Saturday my kids have been invited to a birthday party, I've been invited to a baby shower, and I'm supposed to play the organ for the Saturday evening session of stake conference (yearly area church conference--the other session is Sunday morning. At least Saturday is smaller, only for adults). Note: I have never played this organ or really looked at it, as I've been in the [very large] building this will be held in all of um, twice? This is this Saturday. It occurs to me that I should be maybe freaking out a bit, since all I do is fake playing the organ, and now I realize I need to figure out settings (every organ is different), volume, prelude and postlude, not to mention be able to play the hymns requested. I just tried to practice on the odd little organ we have at home. Instantly I was overtaken by monkeys--I mean, Little Sweetie and PMB, who alternately climbed on top of me and hung off the organ. I could go find a church organ to practice--but the monkeys would be there, too.

DH usually works Saturdays, as he teaches four classes Friday AND Monday, and has meetings and other work events on Friday as well. He's got to have some time to get Monday's classes ready. I have a feeling he is not going to be excited about all of these other opportunities...

Now that the book is done, I'm trying to figure out what to work on next. My crit group is doing NaNoWriMo. I can't see how this is physically possible for me. Not with PMB lying on the computer, playing his new skill of sticking out his tongue and giggling. I'm trying to do character charts and some prewriting on a story I have in mind, but there are some plot elements I haven't quite worked out yet, and I just don't know... I find myself switching between that and wanting to rewrite my first book, which, I see now with dismay, is truly dreadful. (Even with all 15+ revisions.) And Catching Fire AND Forest Born (Shannon Hale) both came in for me at the library this week. There are a few too many options to choose from! I do think it would help if the sun came out EVER. Writing on dark, stormy days works for me, but dark, dreary days is something else. Aauuuuughhhh!  Somebody turn the sun back on!

Also: I need to stop checking my mail every five seconds. NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE. Like, not until Antarctica has melted. That is how Standard Publishing Time works. Capiche, self?

Eek, I'm going to be late picking everyone up from school. See you later!

recent reads

Kate DiCamillo, The Magician’s Elephant. Possibly my favorite book by her. This would be a good book to read aloud at Christmas (or the winter holiday of your choice--there's nothing specifically about Christmas, but there is snow).

Stoffels, Karlijn, Heartsinger. I checked it out because Cheryl Klein was the editor. The language/translation was lovely, and it had that luminous quality to it that indicates a fable that will Impart Wisdom. I am not sure I entirely understood it, though. Its anecdotes are all about people who want love but who are let down--or do the letting-down--in all the various kinds of relationships. And, it cut off at the end rather abruptly. Am I supposed to believe that in contrast to everyone else, it worked out for the final pair? Or am I supposed to believe that there truly is no such thing as love, and they will end up like all the rest? Based on the content of the rest of the book, it seems to say the latter. Hopefully I'm misinterpreting?

Smith, Sherwood, Crown Duel (Crown Duel + Court Duel). My sister has often recommended this to me but I hadn't read it until now. I can certainly see why she likes it. It's the kind of high fantasy that is easy to settle into on a dark, rainy day. Nice romantic tension, plenty of action, and there are no annoyingly quirky characters. All good things in high fantasy.

Radiant Darkness, by Emily Whitman. A nice retelling of the Persephone and Hades myth. It wasn’t quite once-upon-a-time, but it wasn’t totally put-yourself-there-with-every-detail, either, which makes it a quick read for reader who can't quite handle 700-page tomes (or who just want something quick).

Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins. I can't begin to imagine what will happen next. There is no time to be relaxed because every time the characters learn or figure out something, the enemy adapts. This is a great book to study for stakes! (Um--it's a kind of violent premise, if that's not your thing.)

My Fair Godmother, by Janette Rallison. Ha! This was just what I needed today. Light, funny, and yet, well set-up, plotwise, so that the MC's actions really do cause all of the complications. Sometimes you want a book that is Deep, and sometimes you just really need to dive into someone else's life and get away from the Real World around you. This is a great book for that.

I have Shannon Hale's Forest Born up next, and the library says they have Kristin Cashore's Fire waiting for me. Well, as long as I am spending the week keeping sleeping sickie kids from rolling off the bed, I have something to do with my mind...